Best of

the Twin Cities

BEST PEPPER DISH

Habanero Hell Poppers, Chino Latino

At Chino Latino, a dish's level of spiciness is measured by small fireworks graphics next to the item on the menu. The Hell Poppers are, according to this system, five fireworks hot. To put this in perspective, that's five times as spicy as any other item on the menu. So if you measure a good pepper on the Scoville scale, Chino Latino has your ticket. In the few fleeting seconds before your mouth goes numb, it's a fresh and delicious bite. But let's be serious. If you're looking for the right pepper dish, adjectives like "good" and "fresh" mean little. You're a masochist. You think a good meal should hurt. You want to get a little high. You want to see how far you can push it, and you so favor immediate gratification that you perpetually forget the severity of the bad day that inevitably follows. Good for you. Just don't complain to the waitstaff that the dish is too hot. They will make fun of you, and you will deserve it.